CBCP: Pope's support for same-sex civil union laws not an attack on morals

Pope Francis’ support for laws on same-sex civil union is an expression of kindness and is not a support for same-sex marriage, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said Monday.

In a statement issued for the collegial body of Catholic prelates, acting CBCP President Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio David, D.D., said the Pope was only following Jesus Christ's example of welcoming all to the Church, even if they were sinners.

“This is how we understand what Pope Francis is doing. He is not out to destroy our morals and orthodoxy. He just wants to do as Jesus himself did. He valued being kind and compassionate more than being right and righteous,” David said.

“He is aware of the extent of the bullying, rejection, and exclusion that many homosexuals normally go through. He personally knew because he had dared to extend pastoral care to people like them when he was the archbishop of Buenos Aires,” he added.

Pope Francis last week said that same-sex couples should be protected by civil union laws in some of the clearest language he had used on the rights of gay people since his election seven years ago.

"Homosexual people have a right to be in a family. They are children of God and have a right to a family. Nobody should be thrown out or be made miserable over it," Pope Francis said.

"What we have to create is a civil union law. That way they are legally covered. I stood up for that," he added.

David said Pope Francis had consistently refused to reject those who were unable to enter into marriage and build family because of circumstances in their lives,.

David cited the instance when Pope Francis encouraged the man who was raising three children with his homosexual partner to join the parish anyway even if the person was afraid of being rebuked.

“Pope Francis said, 'Go and join the parish anyway.' He did not say 'Follow the Church laws first before you join the parish community. And yet he did not tell him outright that he approved of his homosexual relationship and his effort to come up with a semblance of family by adopting three children and trying to raise them into decent human beings,” David said.

Pope Francis, David said, was being consistent with his motto, Miserando Atque Eligendo (wretched but chosen).

“If God could choose a wretched person such as he, why not these people as well? If God does not judge us even when we do stupid things, why will we judge these people? If He who knows them better does not judge them, who am I to judge,” David added, quoting the Pope.

Further, David invoked Pope Francis’ comments in an April 2018 interview with French sociologist, Dominique Wolton which went, “What to think of marriage of persons of the same sex? The word marriage is a historical word. Ever since, in humanity and not only in the Church, it has always been between a man and a woman. One cannot change that; it is the nature of things. This is how they are.”

And so he suggests, “Let's call them civil unions.? Let's not play with the truth.”

“Take note he is saying this as a pastor, without compromising anything about the Church's understanding of marriage and family,” David said. -NB, GMA News